This archive report was first published on 6 December 2019.
As the year draws to a close, being on probation can be a daunting experience. One is never sure how to behave, and the usual office dynamics are disrupted. People are coming in late, and emails have reduced significantly. However, I, being on probation, cannot appear to be taking it easy like the rest.
Just last week, my boss asked me to review our '2020 plans.' I had borrowed heavily from last year's plans, and I was happy to appear proactive and share my plans. My boss challenged me logically on some of the assumptions I had made, and I was impressed by his intelligence.
He asked me to rework the plans and share them with him by December 10. I was feeling pretty good about myself until Shiro called me, asking why I hadn't responded to her email about our holiday plans. She wanted us to join her family for Christmas, mainly because her mum was not feeling well.
While I sympathized with Shiro, I really didn't want to spend Christmas with her family, who are too religious and don't drink. However, I realized that I would appear insensitive if I said I couldn't make it, especially since her mum was not well.
Then I remembered my conversation with the boss and the fact that I was still on probation. I told Shiro that I would only make it to spend Christmas and Boxing Day with her family since I would be expected on duty on the 27th. This didn't seem to make her happy, and she asked me to talk to the boss and ask him to make an exception.
Just as I was settling to do my work, my phone rang - it was my father, and he got straight to the point. 'You need to come home this Christmas - we need to have a family meeting to deal with your brother's issues.' Suddenly, I was fearful about Christmas.
